Inklings April 2010

INKLINGS April 30, 2010

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Volume 75 Issue 8 • Crown Point High School • 1500 S. Main Street Crown Point, IN 46307 • inklings@cps.k12.in.us

The dangers of tanning: Recent studies show the deadly effects of indoor tanning Childhood Nostalgia: See what’s changed since the 1990s

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ARCTIC MONKEYS: Staffer reviews the indie band’s concert in Covington, KY

News “Day of Silence” overview April 16 marked the first CPHSsponsored day for awareness of hate crimes due to sexual orientation.

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News VEX Robotics competes nationally The team finishes 16th of 100 teams in the Engineering division.

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Feature Top Phone Apps Check out some of today’s best phone apps for all cell carriers.

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Feature Prom Proposals Students share creative ways to ask dates to the dance.

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Check it Out! Inklings has a music blog!

With a wide range of music updated regularly, you’re sure to find something you like at...

http://inklings music.blog spot.com

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Cheating electronically

As technology flourishes, students find more creative ways to cheat

By Cori Novelli co-editor-in-chief

“Can't find an essay here? Order a Custom Essay from us! We are focused on high quality writing and timely delivery. You can be sure that when you order an essay from us, you get a completely original, authentic piece of work delivered as per your requirements.”

These are the direct words of the www.freeessays.us website. Through the internet, students are now able to order an original essay and pay for their grades. And because these essays are custom, teachers are unable to check online and see if the papers are plagiarized.

“Technology is a double-edged sword. The internet is great to use because it allows people so much information, but it’s terrible because people are able to abuse the system,” English teacher John Lambersie said.

But plagiarized essay writing is only one aspect to the entire electronic cheating manifesto.

With new online classes and various tests taken electronically, students are finding ways to cheat the system and snatch their answers from the World Wide Web. Science teacher Kelly Loving, who uses the program “Brain Honey,” admits to having to deal with such cheaters.

“Students will open up a new window and look for the answers online. Because of this, I have to make sure I’m watching like a hawk,” he said.

But according to some, trying to cheat by finding the answers online may take too much time.

“We only have a certain amount of time to take the tests,” senior Nicole Vega said, who has Loving first hour. “If students were to spend time looking up the answers, there’s no way they’d ever finish the test,” she said.

Yet if cheating is still possible, some wonder why schools would consider switching to online classes.

“Brain Honey is a great program. It allows students to find out their grade immediately, and some say they are able to work faster,” Loving

photo by g . otte

Students can find ways to cheat by ordering custom essays online, while cell phones and other hand held devices allow students to relay answers in a matter of seconds. said.

Plus, other teachers admit that online programs like Brain Honey are great tools to master before college. Spanish teacher Stephanie Lamanna said that a lot of college work is done online.

Because of this, learning how to thoroughly use the programs in high school is a great advantage.

“It really is a huge stepping-stone. You need to master the tools before college where you’re doing (work) like that all the time,” she said.

Lamanna visits the computer labs with her classes once a week. To eliminate cheating while her students are on the computers, Lamanna uses a program called Genesis.

“From my desk computer, I’m able to monitor the student’s individual computer screens to make sure they’re are on track. This way I can watch to see what they’re doing. Also, if I wanted, the program can also allow me to listen in and even talk with the student’s conversations through the

headphones,” she said.

Still, students attempt to find ways to cheat. If not during class, they find ways to get the answers through their computers at home.

For Lamanna’s class, the curriculum for Spanish I stays basically the same. Because the information doesn’t change, technology has been able to evolve into ways that “appear” to enable students to skip the work. According to Lamanna, students don’t realize how unreliable these translating sites can be.

“Online translators are terrible. Students think they can just plug in the words and get the work done easily. But I will read three words of a paper and can tell at once if they used a website,” she said.

But apart from simple translators, hundreds of sites exist online that allow students to re-

story continued on pg. 2

Third-hand smoke arises as new risk Facts: There are approximately 250 known carcinogens found in third-hand smoke.

Even at low levels, compounds in third-hand tobacco smoke can effect nerve and brain tissue.

According to www.air-purifier-power.com

By Lauren McCarroll staff reporter Every year, 440,000 people die due to the affects of smoking, according to the American Cancer Society. Multiple studies done throughout the years have proven the effects of smoking to be harmful.

Now, next to first and second-hand smoke, a newly discovered third-hand smoke has also been proven as a substantial risk. With recent smoking bans and the newly discovered third hand smoke, smoking is proving to be a greater risk than what was previously understood.

According to “Science Daily,” residue from tobacco smoke tends to react with common indoor air pollutants and results in dangerous carcinogens now referred to as “third-hand smoke.” This means that in many public places, these addictive substances could be clinging on

virtually any surface, which is a problem due to the health risks they create.

“The risks of smoking (can include) developing lung disease and cancer as well as other diseases,” said school nurse Carrie Ready.

Apart from being a hazard to health, the residue left behind by smoke can also be a nuisance to those who come in contact with it.

“It really bothers me when we are seated (in a restaurant) by the bar; I can’t enjoy my meal, smoking is disgusting and pointless,” said senior Maddie Chambers.

Smoking in some public places is being banned by not only the United States, but in other countries as well, such as Australia, and also some in Asia.

“I don’t think there is any good reason to smoke, not only is it cancer causing, but it is expensive and unattractive,” said sophomore Paul Kendall.

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IN

News

April 30, 2010

Students silent for tolerance

the know

5.7

Evening of One Acts

5.9

Mother’s Day

Photo by d. casillas

5.15 Prom

5.18.

Spring Sing Concert

5.19

Spring Sing Concert

5.31

Memorial Day

Publication students take Ball State honors Inklings and Excalibur students brought home ten honors from Ball State’s annual high school Journalism Day on April 23.

Earning superior recognition were seniors Deanna Sheafer and Cori Novelli for news story writing and junior Catherine Fleszewski for feature photography.

Superior rankings went to Sheafer for front page newspaper design; then-seniors Kyle Kujawshi and Taylor Verbich for yearbook cover and theme; and the yearbook staff for organization spread. Students earning honorable mentions were sophomore Haajar Shaaban for newspaper writing; junior Vinnie Needham for newspaper sports photography; Kujawski for yearbook photo illustration; and the yearbook staff for sports and student life spreads.

Matt Smith named Academic all-star

Photo by M. Lemon

Students participate in day of silence by putting pieces of tape over their mouths to signify the silence some students must face. Far left: A student (left) shakes hands with junior Christopher Bragiel (right). Top right: sophomores Donald Mori (sitting) and Anthony Salazar (standing). Bottom right: sophomores Donald Mori (left) and Cortney Grove (right).

By Cori Novelli and Deanna Sheafer co-editors-in-chief Fourteen years since students at the University of Virginia started the event, Crown Point has joined the hundreds of high schools and colleges that participate in the Day of Silence.

Since that day in 1996, the month of April has designated a day to promote tolerance and spread awareness about the bullying of students based on sexual orientation.

Several students chose to remain silent for the entirety of the day, some even putting tape across their mouths to emphasize their devotion to the cause.

Traditionally, those participating can hold up a “speaking card” explaining why they chose to stay silent.

Crown Point students have participated in this day in the past years; however, this year it was publicized with posters and an-

nouncements through the school.

“This is the first year the school organized it because we wanted greater school wide awareness. Last year, I didn’t even know it existed. Getting the school involved would be a great way to inform more students about it,” sophomore Garret Hogan said.

Sophomore Mary-Katherine Lemon, who worked with Hogan and various faculty members to facilitate the school sponsored event, claims she felt satisfied with how the day unfolded.

“Overall, I was happy with how the day went. There were no major conflicts and most people were respectful,” Lemon said.

In the weeks leading up to the day, Hogan made posters and spent several meetings collaborating with principal Eric Ban and others covering the logistics of the day.

“I made the yellow posters around school telling stories of homosexual hate crimes and I talked to faculty members to get

request an essay-topic and “buy” the essay already written online. continued from pg. 1 Sites such as www.123helpme. com and www.cheathouse.com are just a few examples of these websites. Students are able to read sections of these pre-written essays and decide if it fits their requirements. From there, they can choose to download and purchase the essay. But if a teacher chooses to use Turnitin.com, these can be caught plagiarized.

Now, websites like www.free-essays.us offer students the ability to order an original, custom essay for a nominal fee.

According to the site, “For over five years our company has been providing high quality custom writing services. Every semester, thousands of students from different high schools, colleges and universities use our essay writing service. Our professional writing team develops different kinds of projects, no matter of its level of difficulty. Whether you need an analytical essay, book report or a challenging dissertation -- we are always ready to help.”

For some, realizing this process exists so easily for students is nerve-raking.

“It’s scary to think who’s behind the computer doing the work. And now we’re moving towards more online classes. Who says even at this school the person doing the work is really the right student?” Lamanna said.

For those students who attempt to stay above cheating, witnessing others cheat can be extremely aggravating.

“It really makes me mad when I know others are cheating. It’s so unfair when I’m struggling while another kid has it easy cheating off a sheet,” sophomore Blake Pals said.

For Vega, cheating is never an option no matter what the circumstances.

“It really makes me upset. I know that if I didn’t study, I take the

Electronic Cheating

Senior Matt Smith was named one of 40 academic AllStars in the state of Indiana. On April 20, he traveled to Indianapolis in order to receive the award. Every school in Indiana was able to nominate one student for the honor. The selection process was based on a combination of test scores, academic courses, academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

At the award ceremony, Smith received one of two $250 Citizenship awards in recognition of outstanding community involvement and leadership.

Smith is top ten of his class and has been active in numerous athletic and extracurricular activities.

Photo by d. casillas

everything approved by the administration. I learned how to go about informing the students about such a controversial subject,” he said.

However, because of the nature of the event, some students reacted with a negative attitude.

Despite this, according to resource officer Chuck Noonan, there was never a real threat breaching student safety.

“There were no major threats and no viable leads; anything that came up always turned out blank,” he said. “From the first to the last incident brought to the awareness of school administration, it all led back to students hearing that ‘someone might or they may’ do something. All were checked with negative results.”

Next year, activists hope to further promote the day’s message.

“We hope to get it all organized plenty of time in advance to enable us to do a better job,” Lemon said.

However the event plays out next year, Lemon claims that she’ll make sure students are given enough time to prepare.

This includes giving students adequate time to return any form of permission slips if they are required. With more time to organize, Lemon hopes for the best next year.

“I hope that the real message of Day of Silence is put across clearly next year, and I hope people will receive it better. This was the first year it was done through the school, so we expected people would be harsh. In years to come, hopefully the day will be calmer,” Lemon said.

For Hogan, the future brings hope that there will be less negative publicity.

“Students will hopefully realize it’s a day to remember those who have suffered from all types of hate crimes in attempt to bring about equal rights for all,” he said.

test and get the grade I deserve,” she said.

And teachers understand that students are busy. According to Lamanna, it’s important to figure out a plan so that cheating never sounds appealing.

“We push after school activities; involvement is so important, but if you’re having trouble with homework or studying, talk to your teacher,” she said.

But situations can turn uncomfortable when a friend asks directly to cheat.

“You don’t want to be mean, but if you’ve spent a lot of time working, you don’t want even a friend having it easy and cheating off of you,” Elston said.

If students are put in that situation, and they don’t want to come off sounding offensive, Lambersie claims it may be OK to lie.

“Say, ‘Oh, I haven’t gotten it done either,’ or ‘I don’t have it on me,’” he said.

Pals agreed.

“Even though it’s a white lie, you can say something like, ‘I don’t think so. I heard that the teacher is watching harder to make sure no one is cheating off of this,” he said.

According to Lambersie, “This way, you’re keeping your integrity, but your friend isn’t able to get by riding on your coattails.”

If a student falls into the trap of allowing a friend to cheat, according to Lamanna, staying honest is key.

“If you feel guilty, talk to your teacher. They will respect you if you come to them and explain yourself. For me, this will help me reflect on myself and question if my homework was written too easily to be copied, or if I need more free response questions,” she said.

In addition to this effort, teachers and students will continue to attempt to combat cheating by both electronic and traditional means, with the confidence that one day, “they (cheaters) will eventually get caught,” Pals said.

News

April 30, 2010

School saves money, energy

By Kelly Rostin opinion editor

Not more than 40 years ago, Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, proposed a day that could be dedicated to promoting a greener earth by bringing public concerns, such as pollution, into the limelight. Even nowadays, public concerns for a greener earth are in full swing.

On April 22, 2010, this tradition of encouraging respect for life on earth was again celebrated as “Earth Day”, and the school took part in the movement to go green. In honor of the day, AP Environmental Science classes (APES) took the entire month to implement a movement they call “Ditch the Switch”.

Senior Grace Snooks is a past student of the APES class.

"This was our second year doing Ditch the Switch. All participating teachers had to use only one light switch to conserve energy in the month of April,” Snooks said.

Last year, the program proved successful as it saved the school money on energy bills. Out of 53 teachers who participated, 7350k Wh of energy were saved over the month. This translates to 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions saved from ditching the switch.

APES classes not only participate in Ditch the Switch, but

help to stay “green” all year long.

Students enrolled in the class stay after school every Friday to collect recycled items from the black recycle bins located in select classrooms at the school. Sophomore Ethan Delaughter is one of the participants.

“Everyone needs to do their part to make the world a better place,” Delaughter said. “It’s important to recycle more and throw away less. People should help the world; not tear it apart.”

Other students in the school are promoting the ideals of Earth Day in their everyday lives. Senior Ani Chan is among these ecofriendly teens.

“I've replaced all the lights in

my room with energy-efficient light bulbs. Usually, I only keep my desk lamp on instead of all my lights on when I'm doing work. I make sure to turn off the lights when I leave rooms and unplug things that don't need to be plugged in,” Chan said.

In order to be more environmentally friendly, Chan also gets creative with everyday tasks and items, such as paper.

“I take all my old papers from school work and keep them as random scrap paper to write or draw on or to print things that I don't need to turn in on. I've also been trying to take shorter showers and, the hardest change for me, to try to eat vegetarian when-

ever I can.”

Snooks joined the “green bandwagon”, and founded the school’s first Environmental Club.

"The club was founded to raise awareness about creating a more environmentally friendly school,” Snooks said.

While the club is still new, Snooks hopes that it will grow in the next few years.

“We hope to get involved with the community and we want to make the school a greener environment.”

Chan is a charter member of the environmental club.

“I want to spread awareness about why it's important to be a self-conscious consumer and citizen. A lot of the things we do, we do without thinking about when a little more awareness would help us make better decisions that would help the environment,” Chan said. I want to help make Go Green Week something significant that CPHS will celebrate every year, make our school more eco-friendly, and even make some money for a good cause.”

Overall, students are working towards a greener Earth, and Chan believes that it’s simple to take part in the quest to go green.

“I think that there are a lot of small things that people don't realize they can do to help. It's really amazing how small things add up to make a difference.”

NHS inducts new members at ceremony

Photo by M. Lemon

The following students were inducted into the National Honor Society on Wednesday evening:

Michael Albrecht Allison Amodeo Kayla Ballard Allison Ban Kelsey Batz Iqra Beg Savanna Bordui William Brown

Nathan Byrd Marija Cacovski Lauren Cain Dale Caldwell Mary Carpenter Zarah Cecich Amelia Claus Victoria Connelly

Sofija Cucuz Sarah Davis Robert Dillon Tara Durant Rachel Dykstra Nathan Ellingsen Kelsey Emery Daniel Fallon Emily Featherstone William Franklin Rachael Fronek Timothy Fronek Alexandria Geisen Chelsea Groff Evan Henderlong Lindsay Howarth Zoey Huizenga Chloe Jaranowski Faiza Javed Fabiola Jimenez Brittany Krowiarz Patrick Kvachkoff Nickolas Ladowicz Eric Landers

Evan Langbehn Caitlyn Lowry Eryn MacNeil Rebekah Maddack Kelly Maddalone Cassandra Marshall Jordan McRae Anita Mendoza Matthew Moehl Madeline Moore Jacob Negele Kristin Overbey Sarah Parker Bradley Qualizza Rebecca Reed Elizabeth Rettig Justin Ritter Kelly Rostin Elizabeth Rothrock John Rotroff Ryan Santelik Holly Schoenbeck Dallas Schurg Hannah Schutter

Stephanie Sekuloski Janice Sewell Carmen Siew Rebekah Smith David Sotirovski Scott Southworth Amanda Stagowski Ashlee Stanley Emma Stein Reed Stofko Angeles Suarez Ashley Torres Gabrielle Touchette Marcus Trybula Nicole Vega Mattew Wagner Katelyn Whitehead Evan Wilson Mackenzie Wornhoff Laura Yokovich Kaley Young Alicia Zaberdac Jennifer Zarate

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Students direct an “Evening of One Acts”

By Brittany Curtis managing editor The fall play is long gone, and the spring musical has come and passed, but that isn’t the end of the theater department’s activity. An Evening of One Acts is the next production that the theater department will put on.

One Acts are student-directed one act plays, usually lasting between 10-40 minutes each. This year’s Evening of One Acts will be the eighth Evening of One Acts for our theater department.

There will be seven student-directed plays shown at this year’s Evening of One Acts. Seniors Brenna Wermers, Anna Bucci, Blake Zolfo, Amanda Reid, Katie Klein, Emma Baker, Cally Kline, Jenny Jacques, Steven Polacek, Lucas Groff, and Matt Smith are all directing a One Act, with Reid and Klein, Baker and Kline, Jacques and Polacek, and Groff and Smith each pairing up to direct theirs.

One Act tryouts took place on March 25 after school. For the directors, it was a different experience sitting “on the other side of the desk.”

“It was definitely weird, because all four years I’d always been trying out for productions, but this year I was the one that they were trying out for,” senior Emma Baker.

Because there are so many One Acts being directed, there are many opportunities for students who don’t usually participate in the theater department to be able to.

“One Acts are a really great way for students who have never been in a production before to get time on stage,” Klein said.

Senior Jake Tasher has never been in a show with the theater department, but has a lead role in a One Act this year.

“Acting is something that I’ve always wanted to do, and One Acts gives me the chance to be in a production without it being a full-length play.”

One Acts will take place in the auditorium on May 5 at 7 p.m.

VEX Robotics team competes at world championship in Dallas

Photo provided

Freshman Eugene Brzezinski, sophomore Jack Holland, junior Jesse Cervantes, and freshman Milan Trisic pose alonside Mark Querry at the VEX Robotics Competition World Championship on April 26. The team finished 16 out of 100 teams in the Engineering division.

Winners of the VEX Robotics Competition World Championship were crowned on April 26 by Grant Imahara, host of the Discovery Channel’s hit show “MythBusters.”

Elite VEX teams from middle schools, high schools and universities representing 14 countries competed at the Dallas Convention Center on April 2224 with innovative robots they designed and built using the VEX Robotics Design System.

The Crown Point High School VEX Robotics Team 1233 finished 16 out of 100 Robotics teams in the Engineering Division with a qualifying score of 6-2 in Teleoperated and 8-0 in Autonomous.

The VEX robots were engineered to play the game “Clean Sweep” with students

applying their programming skills and strategic thinking to defeat the opposition. Participants of the VEX program compete throughout the year and learn critical life skills including leadership, teamwork, and technical problem solving.

The VEX Robotics Competition World Championship included qualifying teams from 14 countries including Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States for three days of non-stop robotics challenges.

The VEX Robotics program is the largest and fastest growing middle and high school robotics competition in the world, featuring 200 events with 2,600 teams representing 20 countries.

“At the VEX Robotics World

Championship, students get to be the stars and are celebrated for applying what they learn in the classroom,” president of VEX Robotics Paul Copiolo said.

“Our commitment is to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math education to get them excited about pursuing technology careers.”

Partnering with Innovation First International as presenting co-sponsors are Autodesk, NASA, EMC Corporation and the Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation.

Additional supporting partners include Technology students Students Association (TSA), Intelitek, Robotics Academy at Carnegie Mellon University, FUTURE Foundation, ST Micro, Math Works, ID Tech Camps, and Hyatt Regency Dallas.

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Opinion

April 30, 2010

Inklings

Inklings is a student publication distributed to students, faculty, and staff of Crown Point High School. It is published monthly by the newspaper and advanced journalism students. Opinions expressed in Inklings do not reflect those of the CPHS faculty, staff, or the administration.

Inklings welcomes and encourages signed lettersto-the-editor. Letters may be edited for space or clarity. Letters must be signed and turned in to room E107 one week prior to publications and must not contain personal attacks.

Letters may also be sent via e-mail at inklings@cps.k12. in.us. Not all letters may be printed. Such decisions are the sole discretion of the Inklings editors and staff.

Advertising is subject to the applicable rate, copies of which are available from Inklings advertising department or by contacting 663-4885 ext. 11349.

Inklings is a member of the Indiana High School Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll.

Inklings may be contacted at 1500 S. Main, Crown Point, IN, 46307; 219-663-4885 ext. 11349; fax 219-662-5663; or inklings@ cps.k12.in.us.

Editors Cori Novelli Deanna Sheafer editors-in-chief Michele Bates associate editor Brittany Curtis managing editor Lauren Cain Matt Smith copy editors Becca Duggan entertainment editor Kelly Rostin opinion editor Hunter McKee sports editor Milan Savich Colin Likas sports assistants Anna Ortiz graphics editor Becca Iddings advertising editor Alyssa Blahunka advertising assistant Georgia Otte chief photographer Joe Nejman Alex Parrish Vinnie Needham Mary-Katherine Lemon Donnella Casillas photographers Staff Ammy Easto Arley Gomez Garret Hogan Lauren McCarroll Danielle McCuan Marwa Nour Haajar Shaaban Adviser Julie Elston

Family ties bind lives together

By Becca Duggan arts & entertainment editor

V

iew:

“Going green” needs to be a continous effort by our school to try and reduce our carbon footprint, instead of dedicating only a month or a day. editorial

cartoon by

Anna Ortiz

It seems like “going green” is everywhere at present. The trend to decrease our carbon footprint is more popular than ever, and it seems that our school is attempting to do its part.

Unfortunately, all of our school’s efforts are nowhere near enough. We have “Ditch the Switch,” which refers to turning off one light in the classroom for the month of April. This would be well and good, but regrettably not every teacher participates in “Ditch the Switch.”

There are several other little things that are being done, and with all of this change, one would assume that we are making progress. However, there are still additional measures that should be taken. Let’s encourage recycling efforts where they are needed the most. Why do we not have recycling bins for bottles and paper where the most is inarguably produced: the lunchroom? With over 2,000 students and over 100 faculty, we are bound to produce a hefty amount of recyclable materials just at lunch alone.

We have recyclable napkins in the lunchroom, but what good are they if we have no place to actually recycle them? The cafeteria is undoubtedly the place where the most garbage is produced. With the addition of recycling bins in the cafeteria, we could cut back on not only the amount of garbage we create, but also on the amount of garbage bags we consume.

Additionally, let’s take the conservation efforts a step further. Why have only one month where one light is encouraged to be turned off in each classroom? We challenge our school to encourage eco-friendliness all year long, not for just one month out of the year. Going green needs to be a continuous effort to try to reduce our carbon footprint. Not only that, but decreasing the use of energy will undoubtedly lower costs as schools throughout the state deal with major budget cuts and are looking for ways to save.

It’s great that the school is committed to going green, but more can certainly be done. We all must make a conscious effort to reduce our carbon footprint. It’s not enough to talk the going green talk; it’s time to actually walk the walk.

Years ago, there were such shows as “Family Matters,” “All in the Family,” and “Full House.” These shows portrayed the characters facing everyday problems with their families. Today, they have been replaced by are shows such as “Jersey Shore” and “Gossip Girl,” where the characters are living lives entirely separate from their families. This represents a shift in this generations’ attitude toward family life.

Do not get me wrong. I am in full support of teenage independence.

Hanging out with friends and doing things on our own are top priorities during our teenage years. However, I cannot help but notice a growing apathy toward the issue of families. There was an uproar when Kate Gosselin left her children with a nanny to pursue her own hobbies, yet I do not know any teenagers who would willingly babysit their siblings over going to the movies. The fact is that many teens put friends before families on their list of priorities.

This is not always how teens should view their families. Families are the group that are with you from birth, that raise you, that teach you life lessons, and that instill values in you. If you are fortunate to have this kind of family in your life who loves you, then that should not be wasted. Some teens would give anything to have a stable home life, and too many teens are throwing away their amazing luck to have such a thing.

A stable family life leads to stability everywhere else. Having the support and love of a family provides one the confidence to try new things, pursue goals, become social, and believe in oneself. A family gives one of the resources one needs to be prosperous in life. By ignoring this invaluable resource, teens are wasting what could be the inspiration to pursue a specific career.

I am not saying all teens should ditch their friends and hang out solely with their families. Just eating dinner at home can help. Talking to parents or guardians for more than five minutes can help.

Making a card for a sibling’s birthday instead of forgetting it can help. Teens should appreciate the support system they have, whoever it may be, and they need to show it.

heard in the

halls

Summer break “Summer needs to be here sooner. The school year has felt so much longer than last year.”

-sophomore Kaity Molden

Smoking “I think it’s a personal choice. If you choose to do it, you should understand that you will have problems later in life.”

-freshman Frank Strino

Prom dates “I’d rather go with a good friend because you’ll have more fun with them than going with someone you just have a crush on.”

-junior Sondra Eisler

Opinion

April 30, 2010

5

Consider exemptions for seniors

By Deanna Sheafer co-editor-in-chief

Cartoon by Danny McCuan

Should money go elsewhere or stay in U.S.?

By Alex Parrish photographer

The recent devastating earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and southern California have raised concerns about the amount of money that the U.S. uses to aid struggling countries during difficult times.

Is our ability to help others overshadowing our own needs?

By Lauren McCarroll staff reporter The economic down fall in the U.S., plus giving money to restore Haiti, plus money to aid Chile, leaves no money for the USA. The recent earthquake that took place in California offered us insight as to what would happen to the U.S. if we had a catastrophic natural disaster. It turned out to be just another extraordinary expense on top of our current issues that are plastered all over the news.

The United States is known to be an independent and strong country that runs to the rescue of other countries that are in need, but there has to come a time eventually when we use some of that money on our own issues. If we have the power to play Mom to all the other countries, we need to help ourselves out every once in a while as well.

The situation in Haiti was devastating and there were many in desperate need of assistance, but the people in Chile also needed help. If we constantly focus all our attention and money on other countries, we will not be able to help those in our own country, or get out of this economic struggle.

If there is another earthquake in another country we will be inclined to help them, and the next one, and the next one continuously, which is the kind hearted thing to do, but eventually we need to take a look at our own country.

It’s not a matter of selfishness. If we truly are in such a state of economic shock we need to ask ourselves where this money is coming from. If we are able to lift up other nations, we should be able to pull ourselves out of the hole we dug ourselves into.

Junior

Freshman

Sophomore

The act of giving and helping others is not a new one, nor is it an outdated one. That’s why I have become absolutely astounded at how many people are enraged that our country and some of its citizens are giving to less fortunate countries that have undergone some type of disaster or misfortune.

It is so crucial for America to play the “big brother”, because if we didn’t rise to the occasion and help, who would the needy and vulnerable countries turn to? Certainly our enemies, and that does nothing productive for our country.

It seems that a common complaint against helping other countries is the very childish and even more selfish, “What about me?” however, even in one of our weaker economic times, America is still one of the most powerful nations on this planet.

So it is clear that we do have enough to go around for ourselves and others.

I have trust in President Obama, I feel like he is smart man and he knew what he was doing when he gave $115 million to help to restore Haiti after their life shattering earthquake. And then a few months later when we had our own earthquake on the home front, there was still enough to go around.

It really seems that a new kind of “humanitarian theme” is developing in recent times. The passing of a bill for free health care for every American, and the global responsibility tied into the “going green” movement, in my mind at least, makes sense as standing supports for this humanitarian movement.

So all in all, I guess my real point is, if you are able to help someone and enjoy doing it, whether it be your classmate or the country of Haiti, why wouldn’t you?

speak up Does technology aid cheating at our school?

I

ssue:

The U.S. should focus on its own needs before aiding other countries

Senior

The U.S. is still able to be humanitarian despite trying economic times

Second semester hits students particularly hard, but no grade is more greatly affected than senior class. Looking around, the lack of motivation is obvious.

Homework is left in lockers without a second thought as kids leave the building. And the tardies? Who cares about showing up at all? And for those who do show up, sleep seems much more important than timeliness.

But above all, final exam grades suffer the most. By that point summer is in reach and most students have lined up a job or been accepted into college. Honestly, some already believe they’re as good as graduated and gone. So how can the administration keep us motivated? Just like in elementary school, the answer is simple. Rewards.

No, candy no longer does the trick like it did back in the day.

Seniors want exemptions from second semester finals. On the surface, it seems like a good plan only for students. But, if done correctly, the administration can see benefits from this as well.

Our school’s leaders have set a goal of improving attendance. So, if they set a rule that mandates good attendance in return for exam exemptions, students would be more motivated to show up to school.

In addition, teachers and faculty alike have the hope that seniors will keep their GPA up even though it is the end of the year. The best way to do this is to mandate that seniors must have an “A” or “B” average for the semester in order to not take the final. If this plan or one like it was enacted, you’d see those second semester scores shoot up.

If this was known in advance, students would never even start to slack off. Then when May comes, they could be focusing on college preparations instead of a test over material they have a good grasp on, as proven by their grade in the class.

Both attendance rates and second semester scores would improve if this plan was implemented. Exempting students from second semester exams may very well be the only known cure for the contagious disease known as senioritis.

Kelli Wagner

Sarah Maddack

Stephen Saricos

Jeff Erskine

“Yes. I have seen people text during tests.”

“It can sometimes, but it’s pretty difficult to cheat using cell phones.”

“Yes, because you can save notes in iPods and in cell phones.”

“Absolutely; picture messages and texting can easily give away answers.”

Senior Sonya du Bernard makes an intaglio ink print in Karen Cox’s Printmaking class.

I on

life

Ask Laugh Explore Wonder Inspire

April 30, 2010

Rehearsing

Creating

6

Sophomore Blake Pals, seniors Jake Tasher and Anna Bucci, and junior Lexi Diamond rehearse for their One Act. An Evening of One Acts will take place on May 7.

Tanning takes its toll Teens tan indoors, ignoring damaging effects on skin

by the

numbers

20

percent of people will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.

2.3

million

teens use indoor tanning beds every year.

71

percent of tanning salon patrons are girls and women aged 16-29.

Tanning beds, like the one shown above, have recently been discovered to increase risk for melanoma by 75 percent.

The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that 2.3 million teens tan in indoor tanning beds every year.

By Lauren Cain co-copy editor Skin cancer, premature skin aging, and eye damage to the extent of blindness. Every time someone steps into a tanning bed, he or she is exposing themselves to risks such as these.

A recent report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that tanning devices are more dangerous than previously thought. This report states that the chance of getting melanoma, a form of skin cancer, is increased by 75 percent when the use of tanning beds is started before the age of 30. “(Tanning beds) are linked to skin cancer, especially melanoma, which is rising in the young population (ages 15-29). Melanoma is the number one type of cancer in people aged 25-29 and second most common type of cancer in people aged 15-29,” said dermatology assistant physician Megan Moser of Dermatology and Cosmetic Specialists of Indiana.

Tanning beds specifically are more harmful than regular tanning due to the UV radiation. According to Moser, the rays emitted by tanning beds are 15 times more potent than regular UV radiation. UV radiation was classified as a human carcinogen (cancer causing agent) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and was also classified as a

Group I (carcinogenic to humans) carcinogen by the World Health Organization as of July 2009.

“Tanning beds have been linked directly to skin cancer (particularly melanoma), immunosuppression (weakening of immune system), aging of the skin, cataracts, and macular degeneration of the eyes (a form of blindness),” Moser said.

Despite these risks, some students still visit tanning beds often. Sophomore Emily Balicki says she is aware of the risks of tanning, but continues to go anyway.

“I’ve never really heard of anyone dying directly from tanning,” Balicki said. “Sometimes I worry about the risks, but not enough to stop tanning.”

While tanning naturally by laying out is dangerous, it is less dangerous than tanning beds due to the fact that the UV rays are not as close to the skin as they are when in a tanning bed. However, if laying out, precautions still need to be taken, such as wearing sunscreen. Moser instructs that a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 30 or higher should be used for daily use, and should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. Reapplication should occur after every 2 hours in the sun, or after heavy exercise or after being in the water.

Junior Nate Ellingsen is a lifeguard during the summer, and has more reason to be

worried about the dangers the sun causes.

“I protect my skin first of all, because I am in the sun all day, but also because skin cancer is relatively prominent in my dad’s side of the family so I try to be safe,” Ellingsen said. “I have a cousin that used to go tanning frequently and ended up having to have chunks of skin on her arm removed because she had skin cancer.”

Moser stresses that there is no such thing as a “safe tan,” and believes firmly in no tanning at all, indoor or outdoor. According to her, their office sees 50 to 75 cases of melanoma a year, and 25 percent of these cases are in people under the age of 30.

“We can never determine if a melanoma case diagnosed in our office is due to tanning, excessive outdoor sun exposure, a component of both, or genetics; however, we are seeing a large jump in the incidence in melanoma in young people in our practice and also nationwide,” Moser said. “Skin cancer is rising at epidemic numbers, especially in young people, and melanoma kills people.”

While some teens still ignore these facts, other students still see the importance of staying out of tanning beds.

“I think it’s ignorant to an extent (to go to tanning beds frequently). If you go multiple times a week, it puts you at a higher risk for things such as skin cancer,” Ellingsen said.

“I’d rather be a little more pale than end up with permanent scars.”

The first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by

75 percent

$5 billion

estimated revenue of the indoor tanning industry per year.

Rays emitted by tanning beds are

15

times more potent than UV radiation.

All facts from the Skin Cancer Foundation.

7

Feature

April 30, 2010

Perfect, personal prom proposals Students come up with increasingly creative ways to issue invitation Remember that adrenaline rush and sweaty palmed sentiment one gets when knowing something is about to happen, but not knowing exactly what?

That is the sensation of prom season; of finally breathing the sigh of relief once being asked to the big dance.

With prom being fifteen days away, recent weeks have been filled with many instances of creative invitations.

When witnessing high school prom seasons, there are typically two types of prom proposals-classic and creative. Ways such as finding a rose in each class to have a bouquet at the end of the day are considered timeless and romantic.

Or, some take a different approach and write “Prom?” on back car windows. Imaginative students often go to great lengths to come up with a memorable invite for their prospective dates.

Bigger and better are just understatements. Unique, charming, and innovative ways are grasping everyone’s interest, including the guys of Crown Point High School.

Senior Billy Davis made his date sophomore Katelyn Reno pop her own question.

“I wanted to do something different, something she would remember. So, I filled her locker with balloons spelling Prom and one said ‘pop me’,” Davis said.

“A prom ticket was inside. She couldn’t stop smiling afterwards,” Davis said.

Others have been asking in sweet ways such as stuffing build-a-bears, writing poems and

“

I wanted to do something different, something she would remember. So, I filled her locker with balloons spelling Prom and one said ‘pop me’. A prom ticket was inside. She couldn’t stop smiling afterwards.

“

By Ammy Easto staff reporter

senior Billy Davis songs, strumming guitars, asking through post-it notes, or even rearranging the letters on the Crown Theatre to form the famous question.

Junior Gracie Argenta had a story of her own from when senior Jeff Limbaugh projected his prom question.

“It was late and I usually don’t go places after work, but since I was leaving for the weekend I decided to take up his offer and see him. When I pulled into his culde-sac I saw his front yard was lit with lawn lights that spelled out ‘PROM’,” Argenta said.

Senior Ryan Ruderschmidt used senior Skye Sawa’s favorite sport as a gateway to popping the question to her.

“We were playing catch with a softball one day and I got the idea to write “Prom?” on the ball and throw it to her. I attached a pen so she could reply. She replied but ran it back with a huge smile,” Ruderschmidt said.

Many girls want the perfect dress, the perfect guy, and the perfect fairy tale proposal. Teachers have even begun to witness the new found glory and inventive ways of asking someone out for this year’s “A Night At Sea.” Art teacher Lindsay Cox has witnessed multiple proposals.

“I’ve had a couple kids in my class make things out of clay and

then write or carve the question ‘Will you go to the dance with me?’ on it. Then you see the kids with the posters and most recently balloons and cookies,” Cox said.

Senior Mary Jacobs, an avid Harry Potter fan, was prom proposed to by junior Andy Vandenberg in a classic fanatic way.

“During lunch, in the ‘Great Hall’, I opened my lunch box to find an owl with a note attached to its foot saying ‘Prom?’. It was just like owl mail, which made me excited,” Jacobs said.

The adrenaline rush of one’s significant other, date for the night, or just friend, finally proposing that awaited question is a feeling some will never forget.

But English teacher Ashley Monroe noted that high school prom was not always all about the fairy tales.

“When I was in high school, most people weren’t asked in these creative ways. I went with a group of friends,” Monroe said.

Nonetheless, as prom approaches students shouldn’t be surprised to witness grand gestures displayed by hopeful promgoers.

Need ideas for next year?

Check out http://www.essortment.com/all/funwaysasksom_tvhx.htm to find something that suits you.

Student I.D. Required

Feature

8

April 30, 2010

The latest hand-held hype

The Top Five:

Cellular applications spark a satellite struck mania

Phone

Apps

In a network of cell phone signals clamoring with the newest craze, cell phone applications are the booming attraction. They were originally created for businessmen and women to network within the company, then it spread to the simplicity of Tetris and brick-breaker showing up on Nokia screens. Now apps have spanned far beyond miniaturized arcade games. There are apps for accessing internet on the go, twittering at the speed of light, for the music collector, the calorie counter, and the obsessive gamer. The question is, which will be your latest obsession? By Anna Ortiz/ graphics editor

Shazam

Microsoft 5. The Tag Reader

Smart shoppers can use this app to scan a product’s barcode and get the best deals and information.

Also in app news:

For the high-tech audiophile, Shazam is a phone app worth the satellite signal. Over 50 million people in 150 different countries use Shazam to boost their music library. If there’s a song playing that you don’t know information on, the app can record a 15 second sound byte, recognize the song, and allow you to buy it on iTunes.

Mark Fiore, the first onlineonly journalist to win a Pulitzer Prize, is being reconsidered by Apple as creator of a new app. Originally Fiore had created a cartoon app that would feature his satirical political cartoons to the app user. However, Apple rejected it on the grounds that it “ridiculed public figures,” in which Fiore recently actually won his Pulitzer because of his editorial cartoons. Due to public outcry, an Apple representative contacted Fiore recently, suggesting that he resubmit his app to the company. Yet this isn’t the first time that Apple has censored a service poking fun at the government. They had rejected Mad Magazine cartoonist Tom Richmond’s “Bobble Rep” app that showed U.S. senators and representatives as bobble-head-like caricatures. Developer Alec Vance’s “Freedom Time” app, which counted down to the end of the Bush administration, was also among the discarded.

Which ironically shows, winning a Pulitzer is easier than passing a political satire through Apple.

SportyPal

If you’re shaping up for summer (or prom) this application is the perfect shape up side-kick. It is designed to improve outdoor exercises such as running, walking, biking, rollerblading and even skiing by mapping your path, calculating distance, pace, position, altitude, and calories burned. It includes a chart making feature to track performance and easy to share access to Twitter and Facebook so you can compete with or brag to your friends.

Sims 3 The popular virtual-life game that was once confined to a computer screen now can be enjoyed on an iPhone. Sims 3 brings on a new network of fun 3-D world environments and lets you be your own eccentric Sim .

Tweetie

Voted by Apple users on bestapps.com as the best application for Twittering, Tweetie is the social butterfly’s best friend. It can easily navigate through the Twitter network and send and receive lightning fast messages and pictures. Shortcuts make for easy browsing and updates keep up with the social current.

4. Tat Tap

Even if you’re not allowed to get a tattoo, this artsy app features tattoo designs of the day as well as the latest celebrity tats.

3. BrainBooster 1.5

Stressed? Tired? This application is nirvana via mobile mediation.

Using brain wave technology, it uses sound frequencies to alter your current state.

2. Pandora Radio For the got-tohave-it music collector, this app plugs into the audio world with the largest database of music files, music videos, cover art, artist bios, and song info.

1. iGift4u

photo by m. lemon

The 2009 “Best App Ever Award” winner combines Facebook, Twitter,YouTube, Bing, and e-mail all in one.

1302-3 N. Main St. Crown Point, IN 46307 219-661-1090 Monday-Friday 9-9 Saturday-Sunday 9-5

Half Price singles each

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sunday & Wednesday

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Tan in ANY bed for $30 Tan in a standard bed for$20 Student I.D. Required

Feature

April 30, 2010

9

Advanced Placement testing nears Teachers, students share tips on how to do well on the AP tests starting May 3

By Matt Smith co-copy editor As a soldier prepares for battle, training day after day to achieve victory, so does an AP student readying himself for the AP test, a battle in itself. All year, teachers have prepared their students for the day of this “battle,” imparting every bit of knowledge they possess, and the day is almost here. Starting May 3, almost 700 tests will be taken to separate the victors from the victims. Without a doubt, it is a stressful time for many.

Despite this stress, AP English Literature teacher John Lambersie believes that every student

should make an attempt.

“It is my firm belief that if you can afford an exam, you should take it,” Lambersie said.

“Why even be in an AP class if you are not going to face the challenge at the end?”

Each test costs $86 to take, but the school eliminates this cost completely for the math and science tests.

Still, for the tests that require payment, some worry that they may be wasting their money. However, in the days leading up to the exam, there are many ways to get ready and feel prepared to do well.

“Each test has something you can prepare, such as going

over Sparknotes to brush up on the books you read or doing some old Calculus practice tests.

Collegeboard.com has practice questions galore that you can get into,” Lambersie said.

Aside from the common preparations, some students have their own personalized ways of getting ready for the tests. Senior Lucas Groff, who received a five, the highest score possible, on the AP Chemistry test, has a unique way of preparing immediately before the test.

“I like to get myself pumped up right before I go into the testing area,” Groff said. “For the AP Literature test, I even wore a sweatband and work-out attire

to get myself in the competitive mind-set.”

From study habits to internal motivators, students have many diverse ways of preparing prior to the test. However, Lambersie says that there is one tip everyone should keep in mind.

“Take the test seriously,” Lambersie said. “You better be using every second to lengthen those essays or fine tune your problems. Don’t spend a half hour doing nothing on the test.

When you get your failed grade in the mail, I hope you enjoyed that extra half an hour of napping. The student who used all his time will get a lot more napping in college.”

PHOTO BY D. CASILLAS

LISA GRADY 219-308-6237 LISA@LISAGRADYHOMES.COM

Each Keller Williams Realty Office is Independently Owned and Operated

“ALWAYS WEAR A SMILE-IT IS YOUR BEST FASHION ACCESSORY”

Feature

10

1990 to 2010

April 30, 2010

Remember when?

From Y2K to 2012, the differences between a 90’s kid to 2010 teen are evident

By Haajar Shaaban staff reporter “Rugrats” rocked. “Power Rangers” were the rage. Everyone had their exclusive collection of beanie babies or Pokémon cards.

Yup, it was the 90’s.

“The 90’s were the ‘bomb-diggity,’ and way better than the two-thousands,” sophomore David Raymond said.

There were plenty of remarkable features of the 90’s.

For one, there were many memorable TV shows, from “Hey Arnold” to “Boy meets World.”

“I loved the ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ because it was humorous and always had a meaningful lesson at the end,” freshman Karen Kukla said.

90’s kids also had their fair share of amusing toys, such as the original Bop It, the Skip-It, and the Tamagotchi.

“I had a Buzz Lightyear doll that was pretty awesome,” junior Derek Hutchinson said.

Although not all of the 90’s toys were enjoyed by everyone.

“Furbies scare me. They’re creepy,” Raymond said.

Another property of the 1990’s was the music world as a whole. *NSYNC, Blink 182, and the Spice Girls are just a few hit musicians of the 90’s.

W

Bop It “ I liked (90’s) music, like Britney spears. I wanted to be just like her,” sophomore Amanda Westerhoff said.

Kids of the 1990’s haven’t forgotten their favorite pastimes. However, times have changed, and our old hobbies have been switched with more contemporary, high-tech replacements-- some for better, some for worse. For example, greater advancements have led to less waiting and more convenience.

“I can’t imagine not having high-speed internet,” Raymond said.

However, some think that technological advancements have taken away from time spent in other ways.

“You don’t see many people outside now; then there was a balance between technology and going outside,” senior Chelsea Masolak said.

Yeah, the 90’s were great.

man alk

Insert your CD, put on your headphones, and go. Walkmans were the epitome of convenience in the 90’s, until iPods made their appearance.

Now replaced by Webkins, Beanie Babies were a stuffed animal turned collector’s item and could be picked up at nearly any toy store or McDonald’s.

Beanie Babies

1990 Now...

Then... 2010 • Y2K

• Dec. 21, 2012

• Passing notes

• Texting

• Nintendo 64

• Wii

• “Friends”

• “Modern Family”

• Walkman

• iPod

• Beanie Babies

• Webkins

• Goosebumps

• Twilight

• VHS tapes

• Blu-Ray

• Furbies

• Tickle- Me- Elmo

• “Rugrats”

• “Spongebob”

• Video Stores

• Netflix

• Hanson

• Jonas Brothers

• “Titanic”

• “The Notebook”

• Christina Aguilera

• Lady Gaga

• Karaoke

• Rock Band

• Four square

• Ultimate frisbee

• Tamagotchi

• Phone apps

Arts & Entertainment

April 30, 2010

myview

3-D Movies jumping into too much media

By Arley Gomez staff reporter 3-D technology has been around since the early 1900s, but in the past decade its popularity has been growing.

3-D is the next big thing, or at least that is what the entertainment industries seem to be pounding at us.

What started out as a different way of enjoying an occasional movie or two is now everywhere. In the last few months there have been movie releases such as “Avatar,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Clash of the Titans,” and “How to Train your Dragon” available in 3-D as well as traditional versions. The 3-D trend is growing, but it seems like the industry is going overboard.

The theaters are not the only ones trying to monopolize on the 3-D experience; now the TV companies are trying to get in on the money that is coming from this new trend.

Many of big name brands like Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, are creating a new line of 3-D TV. Cable providers are even providing channels and programs offered in 3-D. This technology allows the viewers to get the 3-D experience from the comfort of their home, but half of the fun of the 3-D experience is going out and seeing it in the movie theater. It is the novelty of the experience that makes it worthwhile.

Also, the vast entertainment industry is hammering the old idea of 3-D at us, trying to pass it off as something new. The desperate attempt to please the consumers by doing a throw back to 3-D is going overboard.

Every industry seems to be reintroducing products. Even old-school coloring is being pumped up by the 3D hype.

Crayola is buying into the hype by introducing the new 3-D Color Explosion line which allows children to see their art work come to life. This new twist is allowing another entrance into the children’s market for 3-D. Although the occasional movie in 3-D is good, the excessive exposure that the 3-D experience is receiving is only working to lower the value and excitement of it.

11

“Date Night” proves eventful

Comedic team stars as other actors fade to background

By Becca Duggan arts & entertainment editor A common date night for most people includes a romantic dinner and a relaxing movie, but try telling that to the Fosters.

In “Date Night,” Phil and Claire Foster (played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey, respectively) are the typical American middle class family. Claire is a hardworking housewife who participates in the local book club, while her husband, Phil, works long hours to make end’s meet for his wife and two kids, Oliver and Charlotte. A number of people would do anything to have the kind of peaceful, prosperous life that the Fosters have, but the married couple find themselves struggling with restlessness, boredom, and the ominous topic of divorce when a couple they know decides to separate.

In an attempt to enliven the marriage, Phil tries to take his wife to a fancy dinner at the most prestigious restaurant in the city- a seafood place known as The Claw, where the food and service is so grand that the workers answer the phone by saying, “You’re welcome.” However, frustrated with being unable to get a seat, Phil impulsively decides to take the reservation of Mr. and Mrs. Triplehorn. Claire is uneasy at first, but the couple enjoys their very expensive meal just the same. The blissful night is interrupted when a classic case of mistaken identity unfolds, with the Fosters in the middle of it.

Like That?

You’ll Love This!

If you love a certain show, book, video game, CD, or movie and have ever tried to find something similar that you know you would enjoy, look no further.

In addition to broadening your horizons of the entertainment industry, check out similar products that you are almost guaranteed to like.

Jamba Juice 20th Anniversary Most people knew about Dairy Queen’s celebration of the Blizzard’s 25th year in creation, but not as many knew about Jamba Juice’s 20th Anniversary. However, the better deal was clearly with Jamba Juice, for if a customer printed out a coupon available from the Jamba Juice web site, they could have gotten a smoothie free with the purchase of another smoothie. The deal is over now, but Jamba Juice has special deals for each day of the week that any smoothie lover can enjoy.

They are accidentally identified as the Triplehorns by two goons who would rather shoot first and deal with the consequences later.

The date night takes many twists and turns from there, always leaving the viewer guessing as to how such a misunderstanding could ever be resolved.

Without question, Carell and Fey steal the show. There are many celebrities that make guest appearances, such as Mark Wahlberg and Leighton Meester, but they are the funniest pair by far.

With a knack to play any role with finesse and innate comedic talent, Fey is hilarious and brilliant as an eccentric yet devoted wife who merely wants to be appreciated. Her comedic timing is impeccable, and the way she is able to add hilarious quirks to an otherwise normal character is highly entertaining. Anyone who is a fan of “30 Rock,” a show she stars in, will be delighted to see her performance; although, admittedly, she is funnier in “30 Rock” than in “Date Night.”

Adding to Fey’s own humor with his own eccentricities, Carell delves into his character so well, the viewer forgets all about his role in “The Office.” The focus is solely on his fantastic portrayal of a father trying to prove himself as a trustworthy provider. His humorously awkward mannerisms and phrasings (such as “zip your face”) make his character come to life in various amusing ways.

Together, Carell and Fey have an unmatched chemistry that becomes so dominant that all other

characters simply blend into the background. They are a dynamic comedy duo that make every scene a hilarious and unique one.

With the action-packed plot and brilliantly developed char-

acters, a moviegoer will find everything they need in “Date Night.” This is a movie that can be watched multiple times and a viewer can discover something funny every time.

If you liked the film “Date Night”...

If you like the game “Dante’s Inferno”...

Check out “Fun with Dick and Jane,” a comedy about a couple that deal with their dire financial status through comically illegal means. Dick is played by Jim Carrey, and Tea Leoni plays his wife, Jane.

Plug into the game “Darksiders,” which is also made for the Xbox console. Both games are played from a single-player perspective that puts the player at the forefront of nonstop action.

If you like the show “Keeping up with the Kardashians”...

If you like CD “Brand New Eyes”

by Paramore...

If you like the book “Twilight” by Stephanie Meyer...

Look up the recently released album, “For Those Who Wait,”

by Fireflight. The bands are alike with their passionate female singers and Christan rock style.

Turn to the book series called “House of Night” written by P.C. Cast. The books follow a female main character who deals with vampire-related romances.

a few of our

favorite things

If you liked the site PostSecret...

Click on the site cardboardlove.com, where people post messages they wrote on pieces of cardboard to the people they love. The anonymous nature of the sites give an air of intimate secrecy.

Disneynature “Oceans”

Arbor Day Earth Day is a popular holiday in April, so much so that Arbor Day can be overlooked. However, the supposed “minor” holiday should not be overlooked. Established as early as 1872, this day is for celebrating the aspect of Earth that gives it life and undeniable beauty- trees.

Flip to the new show, “Pretty Wild,” which is also on the E! channel. Starring three sisters with family issues and constant drama, both shows are definitely fun to watch.

Information compiled by Inklings Editors

“The Little Mermaid” hardly scratched the surface of what is truly under the sea compared to Disneynature’s “Oceans.” Released pointedly on Earth Day, “Oceans” is a documentary on some of the sea’s most majestic and unique creatures. It artfully displays the underwater world, showing some of the most mesmerizing nature scenes caught on film. To capture some creatures on film, the filmmakers sometimes had to wait months at a time to get the perfect shot. Their hard work was not wasted; every scene is rare and engrossing in its natural beauty.

Arts & Entertainment

12

Arctic Monkeys inspire

English indie group wraps-up successful Humbug Tour in U.S.

By Hunter McKee sports editor After 26 awards through various European foundations and seven years since finding their start streaming MP3s through MySpace, the indie group known as the Arctic Monkeys gained even further monumental success after recently wrapping up their final leg of their Humbug tour in America.

The indie rock quartet out of Sheffield, England performed at the Madison Theatre in Covington, Kentucky. Because the seating was general admission, I was able to experience this concert from the first row for $35 in a rather small venue. It was truly an honor to be able to view currently one Review of the most acclaimed bands in Europe.

Following the opening act of Sleepy Sun, a San Francisco based band with a funky bass groove, smooth psychedelic sounds and howling cries of singing, the crowd waited in anticipation for the Arctic Monkeys to take the stage.

Sleepy Sun’s final song ends, and the lights black out minutes later. The crowd cheers ecstatically, and out from the darkness

comes the shrieking, reverberating, slow sound of “Dance Little Liar.” In the concluding moments of the song, drummer Matt Helders slows down the tempo and then hit his crash on the first beat and the band plays directly into the fast 8/4 time of “Brainstorm.” During this next song, waves of crowd surfers make their way from the back all the way to the main stage. The crowd continues their erratic, thrilled behavior throughout the set.

The Arctic Monkey’s performed all of the singles from their most recent album, Humbug, such as the love ballad “Cornerstone,” which calmed the crowd and turned the concert into a singa-long, “Crying Lightning,” and “My Propeller.” The Monkey’s also incorporated a few classics from their debut album, Whatever People Say I am, That is What I’m Not, such as “I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor,” and “The View From the Afternoon.”

The band completed their set with the song “505,” which turned the concert into a universal mosh pit.

For Arctic Monkeys fans and “Humbug-lovers,” this concert was spectacular. However, for the fans of their perky, British indiepop songs, the concert might have been a little disappointing.

For example, the Monkeys slowed down their hit single “Fluorescent Adolescent,” which was played as an encore, and played it in a minor key rather than a major, which gave the song a darker tone instead of the original upbeat nature.

Despite this, the majority of the crowd was very pleased at

the end of their performance. On the way out of the theatre, many patrons were smiling and conversing about their favorite songs throughout the set.

However, this was the last time we will see the Monkeys live for quite some time. They are currently on a break and plan to start recording in the fall.

unconventional and might sometimes surprise the viewer, but Simpson sees the show as a way to find beauty in herself.

After months of critique about her weight gain, she saw it as a way to reconnect with herself and find what beauty means to her instead of what the media expects beauty to look like.

Another aspect of this show that truly caught my attention was the amount of time and degree of pain women all over the world are willing to spend on making themselves beautiful.

In the first episode, Simpson travels to Thailand where she discovers that women want their skin to be as fair as possible to be beautiful. On the trip she meets a woman who has bleached her skin multiple times just to achieve this beauty. Along with the bleaching of the skin was the “ringing” of the neck. The cast watches as a little girl gets her first of many rings in her neck in an attempt to have the beauty that the people believe in.

Besides documenting different cultures and exploring different sides of beauty, Simpson tries to prove the point that everyone has their own definition of beauty. This show keeps the viewer entertained while playing up to the big message that Simpson was hoping to get across.

Women are all beautiful as long as they see themselves as beautiful.

By Marwa Nour staff reporter

What’s on your iPod?

travels to Uganda where she is surprised to find out that women are viewed as beautiful the fatter they are. The episode actually documents a bride before her wedding as she spends months in a “fattening hut” drinking milk and “ghee” until she becomes fat.

The concepts of beauty explored in the show are truly

Heather Mallard freshman

New season of ‘Dancing’ causes drama

By Michele Bates associate editor

Simpson discovers beauty in new show

“The Price of Beauty” is Jessica Simpson’s latest venture into the entertainment world and this time Simpson is targeting an extremely popular topic: beauty.

Every Monday on VH1, viewers watch as Simpson travels the world with her two best friends, Cacee Cobb and Ken Paves, and discovers the lengths women are willing to go to achieve beauty.

On recent episodes, the trio traveled to Review Morocco and had a taste of just about everything from the exotic culture. From the tea tray dancing to the traditional washing in the hammam, a communal bathhouse, usually with separate baths for men and women, Simpson sees how women view themselves as beautiful dressed in jellabas, a loose-fitting hooded gown or robe, and kaftans, long garments having long sleeves and tied at the waist by a girdle. Simpson also

April 30, 2010

Paul Kendall sophomore

Derek Hutchinson junior

Last month during “The Bachelor” finale, I anxiously awaited for the commercial break. Bachelor Jake Palveka picked Vienna Giraldi and I was much more interested in hearing the line-up for season 10 of “Dancing with the Stars” during the commercials. After the cast was announced, I was pleasantly surprised to hear who was dancing this season.

ABC chose celebrities of all ages and I couldn’t wait for the show to begin. However, like all reality shows out there, drama and controversy quickly unfolded.

Just five days before the show was set to premiere, ESPN reporter and “Dancing With the Stars” contestant Erin Andrews learned the man who was accused of stalking her was sentenced to 30 months in prison. I thought it was great to see Erin get the settlement she wanted and was able to compete on one of the most popular shows on television.

Unfortunately, just a week after the competition began, Erin began receiving e-mails containing death threats. According to several reports, the FBI is currently trying to deal with the issue. I admire Erin Andrews for continuing on with the competition. In my opinion, “Dancing with the Stars” is the best thing Erin can do right now. It gets her mind off the issues that surround her and gives her fans a chance to see a different side to her.

Since I have been an avid viewer since the beginning, I have also noticed that voting has caused even more drama. I believe there are many viewers out there who vote just because they are fans of the star’s career and not because of their dancing talents. Take Kate Gosselin for example. Though I respect her for giving the show a shot, the viewers voted for her for the wrong reasons. I know she has been through a lot this past year, but her votes prevented talented couples from staying in the competition.

It is hard to tell right now who could win the Mirror Ball Trophy at the end of the season. There is tremendous talent and I cannot wait to see the outcome.

Tuba Mirza senior

In My Head Jason Derulo

Casanova Rodeo The World Alive

Resistance Muse

Careless Whispers Seether

Lollipop Lil’ Wayne

Assistant to the Regional Manager The Devil Wears Prada

Fired Up Thousand Foot Crutch

Scars Papa Roach

Break Three Days Grace

Women Lie Men Lie Lil’ Wayne

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A Prophecy Asking Alexandria

Sports

April 30, 2010

S

13

scoreboard Baseball CP-3 Carl Sandburg-1 (Mar. 30) CP-12 Highland-0 (Apr. 5) CP-15 Lowell-4 (Apr. 6) CP-12 Portage-2 (Apr. 13) CP-8 Valparaiso-4 (Apr. 15) Chesterton-5 CP-4 (Apr. 19) LaPorte-4 CP-5 (Apr. 21) CP-3 Michigan City-1 (Apr. 24)

Softball CP-12 Hobart-0 (Mar. 29) Penn-6 CP-4 (Apr. 1) CP-3 Merrillville-1 (Apr. 6) photo by j . nejman

Senior Chris Shellenberger competes in his leg of the 4x800 meter relay in a DAC contest against Michigan City and Chesterton.

Shellenberger and his teammates took second in the event. Chesterton defeated the ‘Dogs overall in the meet, but the boys were able to take down Michigan City. The next conference meet for the team will take place on May 4 at Portage.

Boys track team approaching postseason Team picks up one conference win, works towards end of regular season

As the boys’ track season has moved from indoor to outdoor and from March to April, meet results are getting better and better.

The ‘Dogs have competed in eight meets in the last month (March 26-April 27) and continue to improve. Head coach Keith Iddings feels that team has learned a lot throughout the season.

“The team is developing a better understanding of how to be successful in the various events,” Iddings said.

The boys closed out the indoor season with contests at East Proviso, Illinois and Portage.

In the Proviso East Relays on March 26, the ‘Dogs were the only team from Indiana competing. The boys took eighth place of 16 teams overall.

Strong showings were put up by junior Israel Mercado, who finished seventh in the 55 meter dash and second in the 200 meter dash, freshman Zack Sneiderwine, who finished fourth in the 200 meter dash and third in the 400 meter dash, and junior Ryan Santelik, who captured fourth in the 3200 meter run.

“Except for pulling my groin, the races were awesome,” Mercado said. “They were over before I knew it.”

Also doing well in the meet were seniors Chris Shellenberger

“

I’ve enjoyed watching the team improve and seeing my teammates reach their maximum potential.

“

By Colin Likas asst. sports editor

senior thrower Brad Pusateri [eighth in the 1600 meter run] and Zack Brueckman [sixth in the shot put].

On March 30, the boys traveled to Portage for the DAC Indoor Championships. Out of the seven teams in the meet [Michigan City did not show], the ‘Dogs finished fifth.

Mercado finished second in the 55 meter dash, while Sneiderwine took second in the 400 meter dash.

Following the indoor championships, there was a short layoff for the ‘Dogs. However, they got back into action on April 8, taking on Munster, East Chicago Central, and Hanover Central.

The boys defeated all three of their non-conference opponents, capturing their first home victory of the season in the process.

On April 13, the ‘Dogs competed against Valparaiso and

Merrillville at home. It was tough going for the boys, as they fell to both conference opponents. The scores were 73-59 against Merrillville and 86-46 against Valparaiso.

The next team event was another conference matchup against both Michigan City and Chesterton. The Trojans defeated the ‘Dogs by a 98-34 margin.

However, the team was able to pick up its first, and so far only, conference victory of the year by conquering the Wolves 81-46.

The most successful meet thus far for the boys was the Talon Relays in Brown County on April 24. The team team took second out of ten teams, with the other nine teams coming out of central and southern Indiana.

The 4x1600 meter relay team of Santelik, Shellenberger, sophomore Tor Jansson, and freshman Alex Ray got the ‘Dogs off

on the right foot, taking second in the event.

Good individual showings were put forth by Mercado in the 100 meter dash [4th], Santelik in the 3200 meter run [5th], juniors Drew Horjus and Joel Johnson in the long jump [2nd], junior Mike Ciesielski and senior Brad Pusateri in the discus [3rd], and Pusateri and Brueckman in the shot put [2nd].

“I’ve enjoyed watching the team improve and seeing my teammates reach their maximum potential,” Pusateri said.

The other relay teams also came up big at Brown County.

The 4x100 throwers relay team took home the team’s only first place award. The 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800 meter relay teams all took fourth, the distance medely relay finished runner-up, the 800 meter sprint medely ended up in third, and the 4x110 shuttle hurdle relay team placed fifth.

The ‘Dogs’ most recent meet was on April 27 against Lake Central and LaPorte. The night ended in disappointment, with the boys falling to both teams.

The boys will have three more meets before beginning the postseason, which kicks off on May 12 with the conference meet at Chesterton. Mercado has a plan that he hopes will lead him to a successful postseason.

“I have to eat right, get plenty of sleep, train hard,” Mercado said.

Lake Central-0 CP-2 (Apr. 10) CP-1 Portage-0 (Apr. 13) CP-12 Valparaiso-1 (Apr. 15) CP-7 Chesterton-0 (Apr. 19) CP-14 LaPorte-2 (Apr. 21)

Boys Track 5th @ DAC Indoor Championships (Mar. 31) Loss vs. Valparaiso and Merrillville (Apr. 13) Loss vs. Chesterton, Win @ Michigan City (Apr. 20)

Girls Track Win @ Merrillville, Loss vs. Valparaiso (Apr. 13) Win @ Lowell, Win vs. East Chicago Central, Win vs. Hanover Central (Apr. 15) Win vs. Michigan City, Win vs.

Chesterton (Apr. 20) 7th @ West Lafayette Relays (Apr. 24) Loss @ Lake Central, Win vs. LaPorte (Apr. 27)

Girls Tennis Win vs. Hobart (Apr. 12) Loss @ Culver (Apr. 19) Win vs. Merrillville (Apr. 22) Loss @ Portage (Apr. 27)

Boys Golf Loss @ Renssalaer Quad (Apr. 19) Win @ CP Invitational (Apr. 24) Win @ Lowell, vs. Hanover Central (Apr. 26)

14

Sports

April 30, 2010

Softball in the driver’s seat in the DAC

Tennis team seeks momentum to overcome struggles

By Milan Savich asst. sports editor

photo by v . needham

Sophomore Courtney Kvachkoff bats in a game against Merrillville on April 27. The Lady ‘Dogs were victorious over the pirates 15-0. The girls are currently 11-1 on the regular season and 7-0 in the DAC. The Lady Bulldogs played yesterday against Lake Central, however, the results were unavailable at press time. The girls play tonight at home against Illiana Christian at 4:30 p.m.

By Hunter McKee sports editor With a record of 9-1, [7-0 in the conference] the girls’ softball team have found themselves atop the DAC. “We have been playing pretty good softball so far because we have been doing it from all sides of the game,” head coach Brett Crutchfield said. “our pitching has been consistent, our hitting is coming along, and our defense has been stellar.”

The Lady Bulldogs have a new mentality about their season.

The girls have been playing their schedule on a game-by-game basis which carries the motto “Nine girls name Sally.”

“What this saying means is that no game is important than any other.” Crutchfield said. “Everytime we go out there, we want the girls thinking that way. ‘Who are we playing today? Nine girls named Sally’, because it doesn’t matter. We just need to play our

game everytime out and not overlook any team, because that is when you can get too comfortable, and a team that gets too comfortable is a team that is susceptible to the upset.”

In the Lady Bulldogs’ most recent DAC match-up, the Lady Bulldogs cruised to an easy 15-0 win over Merrillville. Senior pitcher Jackie Beilfuss allowed only 3 hits in the game.

On April 21, the Lady ‘Dogs defeated the LaPorte Slicers in a rather easy contest 14-2.

The girls had a 6-2 lead going into the seventh inning, however, the Lady ‘Dogs amassed eight runs in the top of the seventh to seal the game.

In a highly anticipated game against Chesterton on April 19, the girls had no problem defeating the Trojans, who are currently second in the DAC. The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after two innings. And then in the fifth the girls scored another three runs to

put the game out of reach and ultimately win the game 7-0.

“Chesterton is a very good softball team; they had a little hiccup against us, however, they have been rolling through the DAC since then,” Crutchfield said. “I expect a very competetive game when we see them again.”

On the defensive side of the game the girls had a successful night. Senior pitcher Taylor Perry threw a one-hitter and struck-out ten.

“I tried to keep it out of the strike zone and have them [Chesterton] chase balls,” Perry said.

In a highly defensive game, the Lady ‘Dogs slipped by the Portage Indians 1-0.

The lone run of the game was scored to junior Allison Amodeo who was batted in by sophomore RaeAnna Jenks.

Against Lake Central, the Lady ‘Dogs again found themselves in yet another close game as they eclipsed the Indians 2-0.

The Indians held the Lady

‘Dogs scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Amodeo batted into a fielder’s choice, scoring freshman Courtney Holm.

Then, in the following inning, Jenks reached first on an error and scored later on another error by Lake Central.

In the only loss of the season, the Lady Bulldogs had a tough defensive game as they recorded four errors and fell to Penn High School 6-4.

After trailing to Penn 2-1 after four innings, the Lady Bulldogs quickly bounced back and took a 3-2 lead in the fifth. However, in the sixth and seventh innings Penn scored two runs and from there, the girls could not make up any ground.

The girls had their second and final game against Lake Central yesterday; however, the results were unavailable at press time.

Tonight the Lady Bulldogs will play in a non-conference game at home against Illiana Christian.

The Lady Bulldogs’ tennis team are starting off their season 3-4 with three of those losses coming from state-ranked opponents.

In Duneland Athletic Conference play the Lady Bulldogs stand at 1-1 with a victory over Merrillville and a loss to Portage on Tuesday night. “[Portage] was 6-1 going into this match so we knew we had tough competition,” head coach Brian Elston said.

The Lady Bulldogs lost the nail-biting DAC match 3-2 handing them their first conference loss.

“Before our match against Portage we had a 3-3 record, so we had an idea what we had going for us,” Elston said. “I was pleased with the girls’ overall effort and that they fought through struggles they had early on.”

The doubles team of junior Kristin Overbey and senior Needa Malik had a close match, coming back in the second set but losing in the first.

“We pushed really hard [against Portage], but we need to learn how to stay focused,” Overbey said. “I was happy with our doubles play. We communicated very well and had a lot of well deserved points.”

Throughout the match there were constant momentum changes between both teams.

“Momentum was a big key factor in our match,” Overbey said. “I didn’t know we had the option of taking a ten minute break. That can be a good tool to slow things down and shift the momentum your way.”

Even though the season is early, the team is already excited for the post-season.

“I’m really looking forward to doing well in sectionals and in regionals.

Sports

April 30, 2010

Girls track off to strong start

By Colin Likas asst. sports editor As the girls’ track season rolls along, it’s safe to say that the Lady ‘Dogs were glad to make the transition from indoors to outdoors.

The team is off to a strong start in the DAC, sporting a 4-2 record thus far.

Coach Lindsay Hattendorf feels good about how the team has done in the outdoor season.

“We’re doing great as a team,” Hattendorf said.

“We’re still young, and every meet is a learning experience.”

On April 13, the Lady ‘Dogs opened their outdoor season with a win against Merrillville and a loss to Valparaiso.

The girls also competed in a non-conference contest on April 15 against Lowell, East Chicago Central, and Hanover Central. The Lady Bulldogs were able to defeat all three teams.

The Midwest Prep Invitational took place on April 17. Notable individual finishers for the Lady ‘Dogs were freshman Bailey Beckham in the 400 meter dash (5th) and juniors Laicee Pierce in the 3200 meter run (1st) and Augusta Schrader in the 300 meter intermediate hurdles (9th).

Then, on April 20, the girls took on Michigan City and Chesterton at home, coming out victorious over both opponents. Good performances were displayed by senior Ashley Torres, who was first for the team in the 100 and 200 meter dashes as well as the long jump. Junior Mackenzie Wornhoff led the Lady ‘Dogs in the shot put.

The girls also fared well in the West Lafayette Relays, which were held on April 24. The team placed seventh place overall. Torres finished third in the long jump, while Schrader took home third in the 300 meter hurdles.

Other strong showings came from all five of the relay teams, which all cracked the top six in their respective races. The 4x400 relay, consisting of Schrader, Beckham, sophomores Abi Small and Whitney Mitchell, was the top team, finishing third.

The most recent contest for the Lady ‘Dogs took place on April 27 against Lake Central and LaPorte. The girls came out on top against LaPorte by a 96-36 margin, but were toppled by the Lady Indians by a score of 84-48.

15

Baseball remains the top dog in the state

By Hunter McKee sports editor The boys’ baseball team has continued to showcase its winning tradition season after season. The Bulldogs currently hold a record of 14-1 [4-1 in the DAC], and are also ranked first in the state by the IHSBCA. However, because of these accolades the ‘Dogs still are not satisfied with their overall performance.

“We have a long way to go; the players are going to have to get more of a ‘team first attitude’ if we are going to have a chance to develop any chemistry to make a post-season run.” head coach Steve Strayer said.

In the season opener, the Bulldogs recorded their first win of the season in a 3-1 victory over Carl Sandburg High School in Illinois.

Senior pitcher Josh Negele allowed two hits and struck out nine through six innings. Offensively, the ‘Dogs received runs from seniors Jeff Limbaugh and Scott Donley and sophomore Joe Hopman.

On April 21, the Bulldogs beat IHSBCA’s No. 2 ranked LaPorte by the slimmest of margins.

Through five innings the ‘Dogs had a strong 4-1 lead over the Slicers. However, LaPorte scored three runs through the sixth and seventh innings, which tied the

game at four. Luckily, in the bottom of the seventh, with two runners on and junior Mike Manion up to bat, Manion hit a grounder to a LaPorte fielder and the ‘Dogs were able to score on a Slicer error for the 5-4 win.

“It felt great to bring in the winning run; it was a big win because they are a good team,” Manion said.

On April 19, the Bulldogs fought in a tough game against Chesterton which resulted in their only loss thus far. The ‘Dogs could not keep the Trojans in check as they fell 5-4.

Chesterton had a 3-1 lead through six and a half innings.

However, the Bulldogs bounced back in the bottom of the sixth and scored two runs to tie the game. But in the seventh, the ‘Dogs failed to keep the Trojans down and allowed two more runs to score. In the bottom of the seventh, the boys’ efforts were not enough to pull out a win, as they only scored one run.

“We lost the game early. It gave Chesterton confidence and put us back on our heels,” Strayer said. “We did not dictate the pace of the game,” he added.

Yesterday the ‘Dogs played against Lake Central. The results were unavailable at press time.

Tonight, the Bulldogs play against Illiana Christian, with the first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.

Photo

hoto by V innie N eedham PPhoto

by V innie N eedham

by

Vinnie Needham

Senior pitcher Josh Negele pitches in a game against Valparaiso. The Dog’s were victorious over the Vikings 8-4.

Official IHSBCA Rankings School

*Class 4A

Points

1) Crown Point 2) LaPorte 3) Hamilton SE 4) Cathedral 5) Bloomington South

63 55 51 47 45

Boys golf wins own invitational, prepares for conference play

By Mil Savich asst. sports editor

Photo

by

Vinnie N eedham

Juinor Golfer Nick Grubnich tees off at Youche country club.

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Getting back into the swing of things after a long time off isn’t always so easy, even for those who are used to it.

“We’ve really been struggling with our ball striking,” junior Nick Grubnich said. “We haven’t been hitting the ball well and, personally, I’ve just been having problems with my swing.”

Grubnich, who has been to state and named player of the week multiple times, is a third year varsity player.

The golf team has started their season on an up-and-down note with a record of 2-2.

“We should bounce back,” Grubnich said. “We just haven’t gotten into a good rythm yet.”

The ‘Dogs have a four o’clock tee time to start their fifth match this year, which is tonight at LaPorte with Lake Central. This will be the first conference competition the boys have faced this season.

“To be successful in the DAC, we’re going to need to choose the right five guys for the var-

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sity line up,” Grubnich said. “We got a solid win on Saturday, but we haven’t been tested with any tough teams yet.”

The team picked up a victory during the Crown Point Invitational, which was held at their home course, Youche Coutry Club.

“It’s really nice to play at Youche because it’s a private country club, so most other teams don’t get the chance to practice there unless they have golfers who are members,” Grubnich said. “We know the course really well and that can be a big advantage.”

The ‘Dogs lost both their season opener at Rensselaer and their following match at Boone Grove.

However, they turned around and won their next two matches.

“Losing matches early on is tough, but we bounced back and are getting ready to be tested in conference play,” Grubnich said.

After tonight, the boys’ will participate in the Kankakee Valley Invitational on May 1. The team will resume conference play on May 4, when they go to Chesterton to take on the Trojans with Portage.

Bradshaw College Consulting College Admissions Consulting PSAT/SAT tutoring Gerald M. Bradshaw www.BradshawCollegeConsulting.com Gerald_bradshaw@post.harvard.edu 219.663.3041 Crown Point, IN Educated Advice Columnist Post-Tribune

16 Personalities Babcock finds hobby, career in carpentry

By Donnella Casillas photographer While some teens play video games and go to the mall every weekend, junior Evan Babcock chose to craft wooden pens and take up carpentry as a hobby and a potential career.

Babcock became interested with carpentry when renovating various parts of his house, especially when building a deck after his new pool was installed.

“I like to work with my hands,” Babcock said. “I also did a lot of stuff around the house, so when I found out the high school had a wood shop class I decided to try it out.”

When first starting out with beginning wood shop as a freshman, Babcock enjoyed the class and decided to take it for the rest of his high school years.

“After taking the beginning class, I decided to take two periods of wood shop when signing up for the advanced class,” Babcock said.

Throughout his high school career, Babcock has gotten many compliments on the furniture he has created within the school.

“I believe my greatest accomplishment so far is a tile-top coffee table I made. It was black with a light oak stain to it, and had two end tables accompanying the main table,” Babcock said. “The table was my greatest achievement is because I was young and I got so many compliments on how good it looked.”

Although Babcock takes only one hour of the same advanced wood shop class this year, he plans to take it further next year as a senior.

“I’m taking a class at Hanover next year that’s called ‘building trades,’” Babcock said. “In that class I’m going to be building a house that can be legitimately sold after we have completed the project.”

Babcock has many plans for himself in the future, going from

April 30, 2010

Getting to know...

Junior Katie Meyers

photo by D. Casillas

photo by m.K. Lemon

Junior Evan Babcock assembles a wooden jewelry box while his instructor, Ed Topp, guides him through the process.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

If I could go anywhere in the world I would go to Ireland because I’m Irish and I’ve always wanted to go there.

college to a career in carpentry.

“I plan to attend carpentry classes at Purdue Calumet for college, but I also want to have an apprenticeship while attending those classes as well,” Babcock said. “I plan to specifically major in business construction management.”

Besides carpentry, Babcock also has an interest in constructing pens.

“I got into making pens about a year ago,” Babcock said. “I started out with making wooden pens, and this past fall I started to be interested in making acrylic pens too. Although the acrylic pens look very nice, they don’t have the grainy texture the wooden pens that I really like.”

Although the kits to help him make the pens are about $10 a piece, the pens themselves that Babcock creates can value up to $40 each.

“The reason why the pens sell for so much is because of the way the pen feels and the fact that people just appreciate that the pens are

handmade,” Babcock said. “I sell my pens for only $20, and my family friends usually buy them.”

Even though Babcock does make a profit out of selling his handmade pens, he also gives the pens and his own carpentry projects as gifts for his friends and family.

“I’ve made an acrylic purple pen for my girlfriend, Shana Wrigley, and I also made her a little jewelry bowl,” Babcock said. “I’m also now in the process of making my mom a medium-sized jewelry box as well.”

Because of his deep interest in carpentry and pen making, Babcock plans to pursue both talents throughout the rest of his life.

“I have to thank Mr. Topp for inspiring me so much throughout high school and for everything that he’s done for me,” Babcock said. “Because of him, I plan to learn about furniture making for the rest of my life, and eventually have a successful career in carpentry.”

Who are three people you would love to spend a day with and why?

I would love to spend the day with probably my two best friends Amanda and Joci and then James Roday, the actor from “Psych.”

What is your biggest pet peeve and why?

I absolutely hate it when people chew with their mouth open. It’s very annoying to hear and disgusting to look at.

Name a major issue you think teens deal with everyday.

Bad peer pressure, because I think teens these days are being pressured daily with sex, drugs and alcohol.

What type of music are you interested in?

I actually listen and enjoy almost every genre, but I’d have to say I like alternative the most.

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